By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The Chairman Niger State Sports Commission (NSSC), Comrade Danjuma Abdullahi Masu has assured of the Commission's resolve to groom champions that will represent the state at the zonal, national and international levels from the grassroots.
As part of measures to reclaim its rightful place in Nigeria's sports ranking, NSSC has already strategizing on how to recall athletes who had left Niger state in protest under the previous arrangement due to maltreatment, poor remuneration or ill feelings.
Danjuma Masu made the declaration on Tuesday, when he granted audience to the state executive of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) who were in his office to congratulate him on his appointment as pioneer chairman of the Commission and to formally introduce the new leadership of Sport journalists in the state.
The unbundling of the state's Ministry of Youth and Sports which birthed the NSSC, according to Masu already started yielding expected results as the state came 13th in the overall national ranking at the just concluded National Youth Games (NYG), which took place in Asaba, Delta state with 12 medals, including 4 golds.
Niger state is already on the road map to discover and nurture champions that abound across the 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Masu said he is impressed by a girl of 9 years who won gold medal for Niger state in scrabble and therefore solicited for the support and cooperation of SWAN to achieve desired results.
Meanwhile, NSSC has promised to trace and bring back athletes who left Niger state for other states in protest against poor remuneration and other forms of ill treatment.
Niger state SWAN chairman, Comrade Mohammed Alhassan Kutigi had earlier told the Commission's chairman that they were in his office to congratulate him on his appointment, and to formally introduce the new leadership of the association in the state.
Kutigi who pleaded with the NSSC chairman to step in and end harrassment by security agencies who deny sports journalists of tags during football matches solicited for a more cordial working relationship with the Commission. NNL.
